2 October 1961 brought the start of a ten-week trial-run by the BBC of Points Of View– a segment addressing the letters of viewers offering praise, criticism and purportedly witty observations on the television of recent weeks.
With the sardonic but sensible Robert Robinson in the chair, the programme was made to fill a five-minute gap before the news, turned into an entertaining if ineffectual little show, drawing a mailbag of 2,000 letters a week.
Robert was followed by the equally witty Kenneth Robinson, the amusing Barry Took and the sympathetic Anne Robinson.
Clearly, if you want to host Points Of View, it helps if your surname is Robinson.
Other presenters over the years included Carol Vorderman, Terry Wogan and Jeremy Vine.
Between 1963 and 1970 Robert Robinson (later replaced by Sarah Ward, and Gaynor Morgan Rees) presented a version designed for children’s letters entitled Junior Points Of View.
Robert Robinson
Kenneth Robinson
Barry Took
Anne Robinson
Terry Wogan
Jeremy Vine
